Death overshadows Killie cup win

19 March 2012 07:47

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Kilmarnock's Scottish Communities League Cup final joy turned to tragedy within moments of the final whistle when the father of midfielder Liam Kelly suffered a suspected heart attack in the Hampden stand and died.

Jack Kelly, 59, received emergency treatment yards from the Kilmarnock dugout after his son had helped his team to a 1-0 win over Celtic.

Liam Kelly, 22, was told the news as he and his team-mates celebrated on the pitch and was visibly distraught before being moved away from the scene as paramedics treated his father.

The rest of the Kilmarnock players lifted the trophy oblivious to the unfolding tragedy but manager Kenny Shiels was aware of the situation and looked on in serious concern.

Kelly rushed to the nearby hospital where his father was taken but he died shortly afterwards. The rest of the players were told the news of the death as they toured the Ayrshire town on an open-top bus and Strathclyde Police later confirmed Mr Kelly had died.

Speaking before Mr Kelly's death had been confirmed, Shiels said: "I am all over the place, I really am. I have gone from so high an emotion to so low an emotion.

"The dressing room is very despondent and I don't know why the man above sends down these messages to us. We are thinking more about Liam than our triumphalism."

Bell produced a man-of-the-match performance to keep out Celtic with a string of impressive saves, ensuring an 84th-minute goal from Dieter van Tornhout on his birthday was enough to claim the trophy. But the goalkeeper was close to tears as he spoke after the match.

"We have had some sad news coming in, so that has made everything very difficult for us as a team," the 25-year-old said. "I'm very close to Liam so it just puts things into perspective for me. If I could take away my performance I would, if Liam's dad was all right."